Floor furnace valve



June 2, 1942. c. s..sTucKENYHQ|.T 2,234,996

FLOOR FURNACE VALVE Original Filed June 5, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet l June-2, 1942. c. s. sTucKENHoL'r 2,284,996

FLOOR FURNACE VALVE original Filed June 5, 1941 2 sheets-sheet 2 .Z2/VENTaf? Patented .lune 2, 1942 FLOOR FURNACE VALVE Casper S. Stuckenholt,Cleveland, Ohio, assignor to The W. J. Schoenberger Company, Cleveland,Ohio, a, corporation of Ohio Original application .une 5, 1941, SerialNo. 396,765. Divided and this application January 28, 1942, Serial No.428,621

Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in valves, being particularlydirected to valves for use with oor furnaces and is a division of myco-pending application Serial No. 396,765, led June 5, 1941. Y j

The conventional floor furnace construction comprises a cast manifoldupon which is mounted two valves for supporting gas to a pilot and mainburner respectively. In order to meet requirements of the American GasAssociation laboratory, to the effect that means must be provided forpreventing the main burner valve from being turned Yon before the pilotvalve, it has been the practice to employ valves with special swivelsand a locking plate connecting one valve with the other. The use of twovalves embodying such special features as the locking plate and swivelshas proven expensive and otherwise somewhat unsatisfactory.

One of the general objects of the present invention is to provide asingle valve capable of meeting the aforesaid requirements thus elimi-vnating the locking plate.

Floor furnace valves of the general type herein referred to are operatedfrom a considerable distance through the medium of a long heavy andunwieldy operating rod or handle and consequently the operatorheretofore has experienced great diiculty in ascertaining the positionof the valve usually indicated by a clicking sound as the valve reachesvarious stations. One of the objects of the present invention is toprovide means whereby the operation can definitely determine theposition of the valve by careful manipulation of the operating rod.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent as the description isconsidered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the improved plug valve as used with amanually controlled furnace;

Figure 2 is a section taken on line 2-2 of Fig- )ure 5;

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the valve;

Figure 4 is a section taken on line 4 4 of Fig- Y Figure 12 is asectional View of the safety lock washer taken "on line l2-I2 of Figure11;

Figure 13 is a plan view of the needle valve;

Figure 14 is a side View of the needle valve;

Figure 15 is a bottom View of the flanged cap member;

Figure 16lis a perspective view of the flanged cap member;

Figure 17 is an end view of the plug valve coil spring;

Figure 18 is a side view of the spring shown in Figure 17; l

Figure 19 is a plan view of the locking plate;

Figure 20 is a side View of the locking plate;

FigureZl is an endview of the valve stem; and

Figure 22 is a partial sectional view cf Ythe valve stem swivel andoperating rod. v

Referring more particularly to the drawings the improved valve comprisesa preferably cast valve housing or casing I, having therein a ver- Ytically disposed tapered plugreceiving bore 2.

Projecting rearwardly at right angles yto the bore 2 is an enlargedhollow gas inlet extension 3, interiorly threaded as at l and providedwith an upwardly extending fastening ange 5. The extension 3 is adaptedto be threadedly connected with the house gas supply line (not shown),and the flange 5 is provided with screw openings 6, to facilitatesecuring the valve to a suitable support such as the wall of a furnace,also not shown.

Projecting outwardly from the front `of the casing l, is a horizontallydisposed hollow extension l axially aligned with the bore of rearwardlyextending hollow extension 3. The cuter end of the extension 'I isprovided with an adjustable threaded perforated cap 8, through which gaswill flow to the usual mixing tube of a main burner, not shown. Theseoppositely projecting hollow extensions 3 and l communicate with theplug receiving bore 2 at their outer and inner ends respectively,through aligned oppositely disposed openings 22 and 23 in the casing.

A pair of parallel extensions or nipples S and Il! extend outwardly fromthe right side of the casing, when looking toward the front end ofextension l. The nipple 9 is adapted for connection with a conventionalpilot light'for the main burner, also not shown, a length of coppertubing or the like 2 connected to a coupling member 2l, being employedfor thispurpose. Gas is delivered to the nipple '9 through a transversepassage 24 adapted to communicate with a plug valve 18 in a mannerpresently understood. The nipple l0, which communicates with theinterior of hollow gas inlet extension 3, by means of a transversepassage I l in axial alinement with the well of nipple l0, serves as ameans for adjusting the rate of gas flow from the nipple i0, to the plugvalve IS, through an inwardly and forwardly inclined passage 25, andfinally through nipple 9 to the pilot light or burner. Thus the nipple Iis provided with a needle valve I2 which is in turn enclosed andprotected by means of a cap I3. This needle valve regulates or adjuststhe amount of gas flowing from inlet extensions 3 into nipple I0 throughtransverse passage II and thence out through inclined passage 25, in anobvious manner.

A second adjustment nipple I4, projecting from the left hand side of thecasing, or in a direction opposed to the pilot adjustment extension ornipple 9, provides for a predetermined low or simmer flame at the burnerwhen the valve is moved to reduced now or simmer position. This nippleI4 is internally threaded to receive a needle valve I5, similar to thevalve I2. Gas flowing into the nipple I4 through an inclined passage I6,leading from hollow extension 3to the well of the nipple I4, continuesthrough a horizontally disposed axial passage I1 leading inwardly fromthe nipple to plug receiving bore 2, and finally to the apertured outletnipple or extension 1, in a manner presently described. The volume ofnow can be reduced to any desired predetermined minimum by screwing theneedle valve inwardly in an'obvious manner. A cap 26 encloses andprotects the needle valve I5 against tampering.

The tapered plug or valve I8 is adapted to be snugly but rotatablyreceived in the tapered bore 2 of the casing I. The valve plug is formedwith a large transverse opening I9, approximately midway of its length,and with a relatively small transverse opening 29 leading to the largeropening I9. The opening 29 extends at substantially right angles to theopening or passage I9 and in a plane which bisects the axis of thelatter approximately midway its length. The plug is also formed with aperipheral groove or passage 2I, extending around the lower end of theplug approximately 270 and isl spaced downwardly a substantial distancefrom the plug openings or passages I9 and 20. When the plug is seated inthe bore 2, the groove 2I therein will lie in a common plane with theinner ends of inclined passage 24 and axial passage 25, leadingrespectively from bore 2 to nipple 9 and from nipple I0 to bore 2, sothat these passages 24 and 25 will be in the path of movement of thegroove. Likewise the aligned main inlet and main outlet openings 22 and23 leading from the hollow extension 3 to the bearing surface of theplug receiving bore 2 and from the bore to and through the passage 5i!of extension 1, respectively lie in the path of movement and are adaptedto be brought into and out of register with the plug passages I9 and 29when the plug valve is appropriately rotated.

In operation the valve plug is manually rotated by means of a valve stem28 having its lower or inner end extending into and interengaging with ahollow extension 29 formed on the outer end of the plug, the stem beingprovided with a socket member 30 swiveled thereto by means of pin 30.This member is formed with a squared opening 3l, adapted to receive thecorrespondingly squared lower end of a conventional and relatively longoperating rod or handle 58, which is manually manipulated from the floorabove. The movable socket member 33 facilitates the operation ofconnecting the long rod 50 to the stem and also affords sufficientflexibility to prevent the valve from binding during movement from onestation to another. Hollow extension 29 is formed with two oppositelyarranged slots 32 and 33 of different Width to slidably receive ngerportions 34 and 35 integrally formed on the inner or lower end of stem23, when the latter is partially inserted Within the hollow extensionagainst the tension of a coil spring 39, seated in the hollow extension.The nger portions are proportioned to nt the slots 32 and 33 and are ofdifferent width t0 insure proper assembly. A locking plate or member 40seated on the coil spring between the latter and the end of the stem, isformed with ngers 44 and 45 of different length and width adapted to beforced into interlocking engagement with the slots 32 and 33 by thestem.

A flanged apertured cap member 36 sleeved over the valve stem is formedwith a depending flange 36 having apertured ears 31 and 31 which seatupon and are secured to laterally extending apertured lugs 38 and 38formed on the upper face of outer end of the casing I. A safety lockwasher 46 is interposed between the cap member 36 and the end face ofthe casing for the purpose presently described. The forwardly facingportion of the cap ange 36 is formed with a cut away portion or recess4I approximately midway between the two apertured ears 31 and 31 andadjoining this recess in stepped relation thereto is a second and deepercut out portion or recess 42 which extends to the apertured ear 31'. Oneend of the recess 4I serves as a stop shoulder 43 for limiting movementof the valve in a clockwise direction when the elongated arm 44 of thelocking plate 40, is moved thereagainst. The cap 35 is also formed witha depression 41 at the joint of juncture between the depending capflange 36 and the apertured ear 31' and the nwardly or rearwardly facingportion of the flange is formed with a cut away portion or recess 4B.The recess 42 and the depression 41 serve to respectively lock andresiliently latch the valve against movement in either direction whenthe locking and latching plate 4l) reaches these respective stations,while one end 49 of the cut away portion 48 serves as a stop wall toprevent furtheranti-clockwise rotation of the valve when the latter isin position to permit a low now of gas to the burner.

When the valve is in off or inactive position the arm 44 eng-ages thestop shoulder 43 of recess 4I and prevents rotation in a clockwisedirection. If the valve is now rotated in an anticlockwise directionuntil the larm 44 of lock plate 40, registers with the recess 42, thecoil spring 39 forces the arm 44 into this recess with an audibleclicking or snap action thus locking the valve in its first activeposition and in which a reduced supply of gas is delivered to the pilotlight connection or nipple 9. The pilot gas enters hollow casingextension 3 from the house gas line, not shown, and thence into nippleI!) through small transverse passage II, axially aligned therewith. Fromnipple I0 the pilot gas flows through the inwardly and forwardlyinclined passage 25, leading from the nipple I0 and through the bearingsurface of the vertical plug receiving bore 2, formed in the casing I,where it is picked up by the plug slot or groove 2I which alsocommunicates with the transverse passage 24 leading from the bore 2, tothe nipple 9. Manual adjustment of the pilot flow, to compensate fordifferent pressures and kinds of gases encountered in variouslocalities, can be readily made by removing the cap I3 from nipple I0and screwing the needle valve I2 into or away from the outlet end ofpassage I I, according to whether it is desired to reduce or increasethe flowof gas to the pilot light.

In order to -rotate the valve to its second active or full on position,in which a full flow of gas is delivered to the main burner, vthe stemmust be moved inwardly in an axial direction until the `arm 44 clearsthe right hand wall of krecess 42. Whereupon rotation of the valve in ananticloclzwise direction is continued until the full flow station hasbeen reached and the arm 44 has been forced into the depression 41, withan audible click. A full stream of glas from inlet extension 3 will nowflow through transverse plug passage I 9, which is aligned with andplaces the plug inlet and outlet openings 22 and 23 in communicationwith each other, and thence through the apertured extension 1 to theburner.

Inthis position the long arm 44 of plate 4B is resiliently latched inthe `depression 41 and the previously described flow of gas to the pilotcontinues.

Still further rotation of the valve plug in an anti-clockwise directionmay be effected by merely overcoming the resistance offered by theresiliently pressed arm t4 against movement out of its lfat'chingposition against the tension of spring 39. When the arm 44 engages thepreviously described shoulder 49 at one end of the -cut away portion orrecess 48, anti-clockwise rotation of the plug will be definitelystopped. Gas will now ilow from main inlet 3 through the small forwardlyand outwardly inclined passage I6 leading from the inlet 3 to the.predetermined low flow Iadjustment nipple I4 and thence inwardlythrough an axial or transverse passage I1, leading from the nipple I4 tothe interior or large pass-age IB of plug I8 and nnally out through thesmall plug opening 20. Ihe latter, at this time registers with theoutlet opening 23 in the casing leading to the gas'passage 5I) inextension 1, which in turn is connected to the main burner. We now havea predetermined reduced flow of gas to or predetermined low flame at themain burner with gas also flowing to the pilot. While the maximum flowof vgas to and through the fitting or extension 1 in this position ismuch less than when the valve is in full or high position, any desiredor nner minimum low flow adjustment may be made by merely removing thecap 26 and screwing theadjustment Valve I5, in an appropriate direction.

It wil1 be understood that when the valve plug 2 is in off or closedposition, the small plug opening or passage of the plug IB, willregister with the gas inlet extension 3 and the low ilovv adjustmentnipple or well I4 respectively. It will also be noted that in thisposition, the large passage I9 will be out of register with the opening23 leading to passage 5I! in extension 1, the opening 23 being thusclosed. At the same time, it will also be noted that forwardly andinwardly inclined passage leading from pilot flow adjustment nipple Iii,to the plug receiving bore 2 is :closed or blocked at the bore by thatsolid space or area 59 of the plug extending between the opposite endsof the groove 2I, and conseduently no gas can flow to either the pilotor main burner. Y

In the iirst active or pilot position the transverse passage I1 leadingfrom the 10W flow adjustment nipple I4 to the plug bore is yclosed bythe area or space 60 between the small passage 20 of the plug and oneend 6I of the larger plug passage I9, the small passage 2li beinglocated inlet 3 to the burner.

somewhat closer to the end 6I of passage I9 than to the other end 62thereof. Flow of gas from nipple I4 is thus closed and therefore no gascan reach the extension 'I or main burner from this source. The smallopening 2t will also have been moved slightly in a clock-wise directionout of register with the opening 22 connecting inlet 3 with the casingbore 2 and the larger area or space 63 between the small bore 20 and theend 52 of passage Ill, will close the passage 23 leading to extension 1and thence to the main burner. However the groove 2I will now bridge thespace between the passages 24 and 25 and permit gas from inlet 3 andnipple Ill to reach nipple 9 and the pilot.

In the second or full flow position the passage l1 leading'from nippleI4 to the bore 2 is closed by the space 63 and the full `flow casingvand plug passages will bein alinement with each other thus permitting afull'ow of gas direct from As the plug groove 2I continues to bridge thepilot flow passages 24 and 25 gas continues to flow to the pilot.

Further movement of the plug about ninety degrees in anti-clockwisedirection moves the plug to its third active or low flow position withthe end 62 of passage I9 out of register with the full ow passage 22 andinto register with the lov/ flow passage I1, without disturbing theycommunication between the plug groove 2| and the pilot flow passages 24and 25. The small low flow plug opening orv passage 2d will now registerwith outlet passage 5@ in extension 1. A reversal of the above describedoperations will take place during return movements of the valve throughiull on and pilot flow back to closed position.

The lock washer 46 previously referredto herein, is provided withapertured ears 56, corresponding to the apertured ears 31 and 31 on thecap 36, to facilitate assembly on vthe casing lugs 38 and 36'. Thewasher 46 is also formed with a depending horizontally disposed ilange5I, which is provided with a cut out portion ornotch 51 corresponding insize to and in vertical alinement with the locking notch 42 ofthe cap3S. Considerable 'diiilculty was experienced with the present valve,prior to the vadoption of the lock Washer, due to the fact that whenshifting the valve stem axially in order to turn the valve plug from onestation to another, the operator would frequently miss the desiredstation. This was due to the fact that because of the necessity ofoperating the valve from a distance, through the medium of the longheavy and unwieldy rod 58r previously mentioned herein, it wasimpossible for the operator to hear the clicking of the locking plate4B, or to otherwise accurately determine the exact location of` the arm44 of this plate. By providing the flanged locking washer, it becomesnecessary for the operator to feel for the desired position thusobviating the likelihood of inadvertently passing the desired station bypressing down too hard on the rod 58, connected to the Valve stem. As anillustration, When the plug valve is in the rst active or pilot ilowposition the long arm 44 of the plate 4U is 'seated in the locking.notch 42, directly over the notch 51 in the ange 5I of the lock washer.Consequently if much pressure is exerted on the operating rod or handle53 the arm 44 will be forced into locking notch 51 and the valve willremain locked, and the operator will be denitely apexercise ofreasonable care, rotate the valve plug with certainty to any otherdesired active or inactive position.

Having thus described my invention:

What I claim is:

l. A valve for oor furnaces comprising a casing having a valve seat anda hollow extension aligned with said seat and formed with aperturedears, a passaged plug rotatably received in said seat, a lock washer anda fianged apertured cap each having apertured ears adapted to be securedin the order named to the apertured ears of said extension for confiningthe plug in said seat, a stem extending through said capmember slidablyand non-rotatably interloeked with said valve, a socket member swiveledto said stern and an elongated operating rod adapted to be connected tosaid socket, the flange of said cap formed with a locking recess, saidlock washer having a depressed locking flange formed with a lockingrecess beneath and in alignment with the locking recess in the cap,spring pressed means within said casing and cap yieldingly shiftable andtiltable with respect thereto for yieldingly forcing said stemcontinuously outwardly and having an arm adapted to seat in the lockingrecess in the cap and to lock the stem and plug against rotation in oneposition of the valve and to seat in the locking recess formed in thelock washer when said spring pressed means is manually forced downwardlyout of said recess in the cap and beyond the upper face of saiddepressed flange by downward movement of said elongated rod and stem.

2. A valve for floor furnaces comprising a casing having a verticallydisposed valve seat and a hollow extension, said extension formed withapertured ears, a passaged plug rotatably received in said seat, a lockwasher and a flanged apertured cap each having apertured earscooperating with said rst mentioned ears to confine the plug in itsseat, a stern extending through said cap slidably and non-rotatablyinterlocked with said plug, a vertically disposed elongated operatingrod for actuating the rod from a fioor above the furnace, a socketmember having means in one end thereof for operatively receiving one endof said rod, the other end of the socket member being attached to thestem for relative tilting movement to facilitate attachment of the rodto the stem and to prevent binding of the plug during the operation ofthe valve by means of the rod, the cap and the Washer being formed withvertically aligned locking notches, a spring pressed locking platewithin the casing and cap yieldingly and axially shiftable with respectthereto for yieldingly forcing said stem continuously outwardly andadapted to seat in the locking notch in the cap and to lock the stem andplug against rotation in one active flow position of the valve and tocontinue to lock the stem and plug against rotation when said plate isforced downwardly out of said notch in the cap and into the notch formedin the lock washer.

3. A valve for floor furnaces comprising a casing having a verticallydisposed valve seat and a hollow extension, a passaged plug rotatablyreceived in said seat, a lock washer and a flanged apertured capcooperating to confine the plug in its seat, a stem extending throughsaid cap slidably and non-rotatably interlocking with said plug, avertically disposed elongated operating rod for actuating the rod from afloor above the furnace, a socket member having means in one end thereoffor operatively receiving one end of said rod, the other end of thesocket member being attached to the stem for relative tilting movementto facilitate attachment of the rod t0 the stem and to prevent bindingof the plug during the operation of the Valve by means of the rod, thecap and the washerbeing formed with vertically aligned locking notches,means Within the casing and cap yieldingly and axially shiftable withrespect thereto for yieldingly forcing said stem continuously outwardly,and said means having an arm adapted to seat in the locking notch in thecap and to lock the stem and plug against rotation in one active flowposition of the valve and to continue to lock the stem and plug againstrotation when said arm is forced downwardly out of said notch in the capand into the notch formed in the lock washer.

4. Avvalve for floor furnaces comprising a casing having a valve seatand a hollow extension aligned with said seat, a passaged plug rotatablyreceived in said seat, a cap member adapted to be secured to saidextension for conning the plug in said seat, a stem extending throughsaid cap member slidably and non-rotatably interlocked with said valve,a socket member swiveled to said stem and an elongated operating rodadapted to be connected to said socket, said cap being formed with alocking means having two locking stations and an intermediate valveturning station, spring pressed means within said casing and capyieldingly shiftable and tiltable with respect thereto for yieldinglyforcing said stem continuously outwardly and having an arm adapted tocooperate with one locking station of said cap to lock the stern andplug against rotation in one position of the valve and to cooperate withthe other locking station thereof when said spring pressed means ismanually forced axially out of said first mentioned locking station andbeyond said intermediate valve turning station by movement of saidelongated rod and stem.

5. A valve for floor furnaces comprising a casing having a valve seatand a hollow extension aligned with said seat and formed with aperturedears, a passaged plug rotatably received in said seat, a lock washer anda fianged apertured cap each having apertured ears adapted to be securedin the order named to the apertured ears of said extension for confiningthe plug in said seat, a stem extending through said cap Vmemberslidably and non-rotatably interlocked with said valve, a socket memberswiveled to said stem and an elongated operating rod adapted to beconnected to said socket, the flange of said cap formed with valvelocking means, said lock washer having a guide portion formed with avalve locking means beneath and in alinement with the locking means inthe cap, spring pressed means within said casing and cap yieldinglyshiftable and tiltable with respect thereto for yieldingly forcing saidstem continuously outwardly and having an arm adapted to seat in thelocking means in the cap and to lock the stein and plug against rotationin one position of the valve and to seat in the locking means formed inthe lock washer when said spring pressed means is manually forceddownwardly out of engagement with said locking means in the cap andbeyond the upper face of said guide portion by downward movement of saidelongated rod and stem.

CASPER S. STUCKENHOLT.

